Eight

Emily descended the stairs slowly, her eyes already adjusting to the darkness of the manor. Her body was itching with the us to bring a lot more light into the darkened interior, but that would have to wait. She must first formally introduce herself to the staff.

At the bottom of the elegantly curved stairs, a group of people gathered. As she got closer to them, she saw that they were all outfitted differently. A few of them wore caps on their heads, indicating that they worked in the kitchens, and a few other were dressed in heavy work clothes and high boots. She thought that those ones must work in the lands or stables. She had heard the whinnying of horses from her room and thus knew that His Grace had horses.

"Good morning, Your Grace," chorused all around her as they all dropped into low curtsies. She was taken aback by the title for a minute before remembering that she was know a duchess and would always be referred to as "Her Grace".

This wouldn't be an easy thing to get used t